The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has filed a lawsuit against Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, challenging the legality of the newly introduced tinted glass permit policy, which it describes as unlawful.
In April 2025, the IGP rolled out a policy requiring motorists with tinted vehicle windows to obtain annual permits from the Nigeria Police Force via a newly launched digital portal.
The NBA argues that this policy infringes on citizens’ rights and questions the validity of the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act (Decree 1991), a military-era law under which the police justify the regulation.
In a statement on Friday, the NBA disclosed that through its Section on Public Interest and Development Law (SPIDEL), it initiated a public interest lawsuit on September 2, 2025, at the Federal High Court, Abuja (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/182/2025) against the IGP, fundamentally contesting the policy’s legality.
The statement highlighted the roles of SPIDEL’s Transition Committee Chairman, Prof. Paul Ananaba, SAN, and the Public Interest Litigation Committee Chair, Olukunle Ogheneovo Edun, SAN, for their leadership in driving the litigation forward.
The NBA raised concerns that the policy has led to increased harassment and extortion at police checkpoints, violating constitutional rights including privacy, freedom of movement, and property ownership.
Transparency issues were also flagged, with the association noting that permit fees are being paid into a private account rather than the government’s Treasury Single Account.
Originally set for enforcement on June 1, 2025, the policy’s start date was postponed to October 2, 2025. Despite the delay, reports of police misconduct at checkpoints have persisted.
The NBA further warned that the underpinning law may fail the constitutional test for laws “reasonably justifiable in a democratic society” and criticized the absence of clear provisions for permit renewal and fee collection.
“The introduction and proposed enforcement of the tinted glass permit policy raise serious questions, including the validity of the Motor Tinted Glass (Prohibition) Act (Decree 1991), a military-era law on which the police have relied,” the NBA said.
The association has vowed to pursue the legal challenge until a final resolution is reached.
